Toy



June 21, 1938. Y E. s. SAVAGE I 2,121,175

. TOY v Filed Nov. :50, 1957 2 sheets-sheaf 1 60 2s- I 21- s2- 3 24 423,; Q;o

s6 INVENTOR T I I A 1H0 mw a saw/a e,

ATTORNEY 5 June 21,1938. E. s. SAVAGE ,1

' TOY Filed Nov; 30, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Edmlmsfiavage, f ATTRNYEQ Patented June E1, 1938 UNITED A'iEs 2,121,175 Tor Edward 8. Savage, Bochmter, M. ii. Application November 30, MW, Seria No. H7276 22 Claims. (Cl. re ne particularly to toys having flexible parts and movable members operable by external actuating means.

The present invention relates in part to my previous invention disclosed in Patent No. 1,601,- 983 issued October 5, 1926. In this previous patent I disclosed a toy having parts formed of a plurality of sections connected by flexible cords, so mounted and arranged that alternate tightening and loosening of the cords imparted stifiening and collapsing action to the parts.

One object of the invention is to provide in a toy improved means for actuating a movable element thereof.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved toy embodying a collapsible element and a movable element actuated by a single control means.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved toy having a flexible part and actuating means for alternately stiffening and allowing said flexiblepart to collapse and a movable member operable by means of the aforesaid actuating means either independently or conjointly with the actuation of the flexible part.

. Another object of the invention is to provide an improved toy comprising a collapsible part operable by flexible means for loosening or stiffening the collapsible part, and a movable member operable by the same flexible collapsible part actuating means either independently or conjointly with the actuation of said collapsible part and irrespective of the condition of the collapsible part.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a toy improved means for actuating a sound producing mechanism thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved toy having a flexible part operable by flexible means to cause the-part to assume dif- 'ferent attitudesyand a member movably associated with the flexible part adapted to be actuated relative to the flexible part by reason of its in- Fig. 4 is a side view, partly in elevation and partly in section of the toy shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 5 is a section along line V-V of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a perspective, on a larger scale, of

a portion of the voice mechanism of the toy;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 4 of another form of the invention; Fig. 8 is a rear perspective of a disassembled portion of the toy shown in Fig. 7;and

' Fig. 9 is a section takensubstantially along line IX-IX of Fig. '1. 10

In practicing the invention a base member it having a handle l2 extending laterally therefrom is provided to support a figure toy simulating any desired object, for example, as shown in this in-.

stance, a duck comprising essentially leg, body, 15

head, and wing elements. In the form shown in Figs. 1 to 6, the duck figure comprises a pair of feet members iii, aplurality of abutting sections it constituting legs, a body shell 20, a shoulder casing 22, and a bottom closure 24. The body 20 shell 2% is generally cylindrical-spherical form and is open at each end to receive in press-fitted relation therein end pbrtions of the shoulder casing 22 and the bottom closure 24 to provide a completely closed body assembly for the figure.

A shaft 26 is rotatably mounted in apertures formed in opposed portions of the side walls of the shoulder casing 22 and extends therethrough beyond each side of the casing to points of connection 28 with a pair of opposed wing elements 30 it. A pulley M is rigidly mounted upon the shaft it within the interior of the shoulder casing it and supports in wrapped relation thereon a flexible cord lit. The opposite ends of the cord it are threaded through apertures in the leg and foot sections it and it and thence through corresponding apertures tt through the base it,

. from whence they extend laterally along the unthe cord tt tightens and draws the figure to an upright position as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. Whenever the cord is loosened, as by relaxing the tension upon the rings M, the weight of the parts causes the figure to droop forwardly and downwardly with a collapsing motion similar to that produced by my previously patented toy. Any relative movements of the rings t6, however, be

cause the shaft 26 to rotate and to impart thereby swinging or revolving movements to the wings 30. Likewise, relative opposite reciprocatory movementsof the rings 46 cause the wings 30 to oscillate or revolve about the longitudinal axis of the shaft 26 as a center. The movements causing tensionlng of the cords 34 and relative movements therebetween may be effected either simultaneously or independently one from another. Thus, the figure may be drawn to an erect position or allowed to drop to a reclining position; and irrespective of its position and either independ-' ently of or conjointly with its movement towards one of these positions, the wings 30 may be made to oscillate by-appropriate manipulation of the rings 43.

A toothed wheel is rigidly mounted upon the shaft 26 for engagement with the free end. of an L-shaped resilient reed 62. The opposite end of the reed 62 is rigidly connected to a drum or diaphragm 34 (Figs. 4 and 6) by means of a pair of spaced connections 36 and 68 in such manner that the elbow portion of the reed 62 is positioned intermediately of the diaphragm and the free end of the reed extends therefromin a direction substantially normal to the plane of the diaphragm. The diaphragm 64 is in the form of a disc of resilient material which is mounted as by means of connectors 10 across the recessed inner end of the bottom closure 24. The combined diaphragm and bottom closure provide a drum-like structure to which vibrations may be imparted by reciprocal, movements of the reed 32 such as may be produced by rotation of the toothed wheel 30 against the end of the arm. Thus, rotation of the shaft 26 in either di rection of movement, as may be caused by opposite movements of the ends of the cord 34, produces a vibratory action in the diaphragm 84 for producing a sound simulating the call of the animal depicted by the toy figure. The closure member 24 is provided with apertures I2 through the wall thereof to permit free transmission of sounds therefrom; and the hollow body of the figure functions as a resonator to intensify the sounds produced.

Thus, it' will be seen that similar movements of the rings 46 to tense or relax the cord 43 will produce a corresponding stiffening or relaxing movement of the leg and body parts of the toy figure; and that opposite and/or relative movements of the rings 48 to rotate the shaft 28 will actuate the sound mechanism of the toy and move the wings 30. Obviously, shaft rotating movements of the cord 43 may be effected without regard to the degree of tension in the cord, and thus the sound effects and the flapping of the wings may be produced at any time without regard to whether the figure is in a collapsed condition or in an upright position, or during transition movements of the figure from one such condition to the other.

The rate of rotation of the wings and the rapidity of the sound vibrations may be varied at will by the. operator of the toy. Rapid movements of the cord 43 will increase the sound elect and cause the wings to rotate with a whirling motion which is very eflective. Naturally, this wing moving and sound producing mechanism may be utilized with equal facility in connection with a rigidiy supported toy body element.

To complete the figure of the toy, a head I3 is mounted thereon by means of an elastic cord 11 extending through an aperture therethrough and thence through central openings in a pair of abutting bead-like elements I3 constituting a neck portion for the figure. The cord 11 extends through an opening in the upper wall of the shoulder casing 22, and is knotted at each end, thus providing an elastic tie between the parts which resiliently maintains them in assembled relation but permits the head to move with a nodding action relative to the body. An upper bill 33 is rigidly mounted upon the head I5, and a lower bill 82 is hingedly mounted thereon as by means of a rubber flap 34. Thus, nodding movement of the head will automatically cause the lower bill 32 to move under the forces of momentum relative to the fixed bill 80. Thus it is seen that movements of the control rings 46 to vary the degree of tension in the cord 43 will move the body of the toy figure to various positions of vertical adjustment, and by reason of the momentum of the parts the head will be caused to move with a nodding effect and the lower bill will be caused to move to give the effect of opening and closing of the animal's mouth.

It will be apparent that the cord 43 may be adapted to impart movement to a variety of toy elements in combination with its operation as already described. For example, as illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, a second shaft 90 may be journalled as at 92 and 94 in appropriate openings through the shell of the toy and provided at one end with a tall 95 rigidly connected thereto as by means of a rivet. The cord 43 is arranged to cause the shaft 80 to rotate upon movement of the cord, as by giving it a wrap 98 about the shaft 90. Thus, relative movement of the rings 46 simultaneously actuates the sound mechanism of the toy and swings the wings 30 and the tail 95.

As illustrated in Figs-7 and 8, the toy figure may be so constructed as to include the larger portion of the working parts within a single unit of assembly, as a means of simplifying the manufacturing process. In this form of the invention a body shell "iii of hollow spherical form is' provided with an opening to receive therein a tubular shoulder casing I02 which carries therein in pre-assembled form' the sound mechanism and the wing and tail assemblies. Thus the shafts 2B and 33, and sound diaphragm and arm, and the cord 43, may all be assembled in proper correlation within the casing I32 as one step in the manufacturing process. Hence, the stages of the manufacturing process calling for high skill and prewith a drum-like unit capable of functioning in a manner similar to that of the unit shown in Fig. 4 from the standpoint of sound production. The arm 62 is arranged on the diaphragm 64 and coacts with the wheel 60 in the same manner. A flange I04 formed integral with the casing I02 assists in properly positioning the casing within the shell I00 during the assembling process.

It will be understood that this invention can be used in connection with any type of toy and that although only one form of the invention has been shown and described in detail the invention is not so limited but that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the ap pended claims.

I claim:

1. In a tension-extensible toy, a plurality of collapsible elements, flexible tension transmitting means threaded through said collapsible elements, and a member movably mounted upon said toy and connected to said flexible tension transmitting means.

2. In a toy, a plurality of abutting elements arranged in series, a reversed flexible cord interconnecting said abutting elements for rigidifying said elements upon the application of tensioning forces through said cord and allowing said elements to collapse upon the release of such tensioning forces, and a member movably mounted upon one of said elements and connected to said cord, whereby relative movement between the opposed ends of said cord actuates said movable member.

3. In a toy, a plurality of abutting elements arranged in series, a plurality of flexible cord portions interconnecting said abutting elements, a member movably mounted upon one of said elements, and means connecting said movable member to said cord portions, whereby movement of said cord portions relative to said elements causessaid abutting elements to stiffen or collapse and movement of said cord portions relative to each other actuates said movable member.

4. In a toy, a body mounted upon a series of abutting elements, a plurality of flexible cord portions loosely threaded through said body and having opposed cord portions threaded through said abutting elements for rigidifying said abutting elements upon the application of tensioning forces through said cord portions and allowing said elements to collapse upon the release ofsuch tensioning forces, and a member movably mounted upon said body and connected to said cord portions, whereby relative movement between said cord portions actuates said movable member.

5. In a toy, a body mounted upon a pair of collapsible leg portions each comprising a series of abutting elements, a flexible cord loosely threaded through said body and having its opposed ends threaded through opposed leg portions for rigidifying said toy upon the application of connected to said cord, whereby coincidental similar movements of the opposed ends of said cord relative to said abutting element causes said body to move to an erect or reclining position relative to said abutting member and opposite or relative movement between the opposed ends of said cord actuates said movable member.

7. In a'toy, a plurality of abutting elements, a

' flexible cord reversely threaded through said abutting elements, and a member movably mounted upon one of said abutting elements and connected to said cord, whereby similar movements of the ends of said cord impart stiflening or collapsing movements to said abutting elements and relative movements of the ends of said cord actuate said movable member.

flexible cord reversely threaded through said abutting elements, a, sound producing device mounted upon one of said abutting elements, a limb simulating member mounted upon one of said abutting elements, means connecting said flexible cord and said sound device, and means connecting said limb simulating member and said flexible cord, whereby similar movements of the ends of said cord cause said abutting elements to move toward erect or collapsing relative positions and relative movements between the ends of said cord actuate said sound producing mechanism and said limb simulating member.

10. In a toy, a plurality of abutting elements, a flexible cord reversely threaded through said abutting elements, a member resiliently mounted upon one of said abutting elements in extending relation therefrom, whereby the application of tensioning and untensioning movements to said cord causes said abutting elements to move toward relatively erect and collapsing positions, respectively, and the momentum generated in said movable member as a result of said erecting and collapsing movements actuates said movable member relative to said abutting elements.

11. In a toy, a hollow body portion, a shaft journa'lled upon said body and extending across the interior thereof, a sound producing diaphragm mounted across the interior of said body, a limb,simulating element movably mounted upon said body, a cord connected to said shaft for rotating the latter, and means connecting said shaft and said diaphragm and said limb simulating member for actuation thereof upon rotation of said shaft.

12. In a toy, a plurality of elements, a shaft journalled upon one of said elements, a sound producing mechanism mounted upon the same of said elements, a limb simulating member mounted upon the same of said elements, a cord associated with said shaft for rotating the latter, and means associated with said shaft for actuation of said sound producing mechanism and said limb simulating member upon rotation 01 said shaft, said element and shaft and sound mechanism and limb simulating member com-' prising a separately assembled unitary structure attachable to another of said elements as an independent unit.

13. In a toy, a body portion, a shaft pivotally mounted upon said body and carrying a toothed wheel thereon, a limb-simulating element connected to said shaft for actuation by the latter, a vibratory sound producing reed contacting the teeth of said wheel, and a cord wound about said shaft for rotation of the latter with a whirling motion upon axial movement of said cord.

14. A toy comprising a base member, a body, a collapsible supporting means between the body and the base permitting the body to droop or recline and comprising a plurality of supporting elements each formed of a plurality of abutting sections forming the sole supporting means for the body on the base member, and flexible connections passed through, said sections and being guided on the base and provided with projecting portions through which the connections may be tensioned and untensioned, a member movably mounted upon said body, and means connecting said movable member and said flexible connections, whereby relative movements between said flexible connections actuate said movable member independently of said tensioning and untensioning movements.

15. A toy comprising a base member, a sectional body, supports having jointed connection with the body and with the base, a reversed flexible connecting means extending through said base and said supports and said body and terminating in opposed ends externally of said base, and a member movably mounted upon said body and connected to said flexible connecting means, whereby similarmovements of the opposed ends of said connecting means cause the body to rise and fall in relation to the base member and relative movements oi. the opposed ends of said connecting means actuates said movable member.

18. In a toy, a plurality of abutting elements, a flexible connecting means reversely threaded through said abutting elements, a shaft movably mounted upon one of said abutting elements and operably associated with said flexible connecting means, a second shaft movably mounted upon one of said abutting elements having its axis disposed in angular relation to the axis of said first mentioned shaft and being operably associated with said flexible connecting means.

17. In a toy. a body portion, a shaft pivotally mounted upon said body, a sound producing diaphragm mounted on said body, means operably associating said shaft and said diaphragm for producing sound vibrations of said diaphragm upon rotation oi. said shaft, and a flexible cord associated with said shaft for rotation element, and a flexible cord associated with said shaft for rotation of said shaft and manipulation of said limb simulating element upon axial movement of said cord.

19. In a toy, a body, a plurality of movable members pivotally mounted upon said body, and a reversely threaded flexible cord engaging each oi! said movable members for movement thereof upon axial movement of said cord.

20. In a toy, a body, a movable element carried by the body, a sound producing diaphragm mounted on said body, means operably associating said movable element with said diaphragm for producing sound vibrations of said diaphragm upon movement of said element, a reversely threaded flexible cord operatively associated with said element for causing movement of the latter upon axial movement of said cord.

21. In a toy, a body, a movable element carried by the body, a sound producing. diaphragm mounted upon said body, means operably associating said movable element with said diaphragm for producing sound vibrations of said diaphragm upon movement of said element, a supporting member for said toy including a handle portion, a reversely threaded flexible cord operatively associated with said movable element and having its ends arranged adjacent said handle portion for convenient manipulation by the flnger oi the user 0! the toy for causing movement of the movable element.

22. In a toy, a support including a handle portion, a body mounted upon said support, a member movably mounted upon said body, a reversely threaded flexible cord operably associated with said movable member and having a plurality of portions adjacent said handle for manipulation by the user of the toy to cause actuation of said movable member.

EDWARD S.'SAVAGE. 

